Disqus - Friends of jark

Re: Ramping IT Up

Rich Chuckrey — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:56:31 -0000

Thanks Michael! Appreciate you following us here. E-communication sounds ripe for discussion. Stay tuned and we'll work up a post about it. Looking forward to your comments as well!

Re: Ramping IT Up

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:15:45 -0000

Hi! Thanks and great to see you here! This is something Scott and I have wanted to do for awhile... finally took the plunge and launched it. Do let us know if you have content you would like brought up here!

Best-

Re: TechMiso Launches

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:16:17 -0000

Thank you! Looking forward to giving it a good run. Stay tuned!

Re: IT Fleecing of the Government

Rich Chuckrey — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:48:57 -0000

I'll just say this: Thorough market research and integrity in purchasing would make a whole world of difference -- taking a big dent out of government fleecing.

Re: IT Fleecing of the Government

Rich Chuckrey — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:08:31 -0000

"Point is, buy what I asked and stick to being a contractor while I stick to being an IT professional who knows what IT purchases are best for my organization."

I'd lean towards commending them for even asking. Shows they at 'least' take an interest in making a good purchase. I've been through incidents where the contracting department arbitrarily changes a product because the specs are 'similar' to what was on the initial purchase request --- WITHOUT asking.

Regardless, you are right, the system needs an overhaul.... badly.

Re: The $100K Tech Contractor

Rich Chuckrey — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:09:22 -0000

You touched on a real good point with folks taking their positions for granted.

I digress a little, but another tip I'd offer is to put more onus on management in driving out the complacency or full on correcting it through performance improvement plans.

Re: Social Network Mayhem

Rich Chuckrey — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:22:21 -0000

You pegged another area that these sites desperately need to overhaul -- privacy. Disappointing as it sounds, Facebook, MySpace and I'm sure others appear far more 'reactive' than proactive when it comes to privacy and personal protection. Here's a perfect example of Facebook playing catch-up on privacy: Facebook Agreed To Make Its Site Safer For Children.
Never know though, with enough backlash these big sites may change -or- someone else may jump in and seize the opportunity... like this beta venture - Cliqset....

Re: One Portal, Under God

Rich Chuckrey — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:38:59 -0000

Even *that* could be an improvement. Why don't you hook up your avatar with IntenseDebate, Jim?

Re: One Portal, Under God

Rich Chuckrey — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:56:40 -0000

Exactly. There's a lot of great things going on in government, but there is no cohesion joining it all. Agencies just keep doing their own thing -- hence why we are looking at a TRILLION DOLLAR deficit in 2009.

Re: iTunes DRM-Free, Legal Purchasers Get Shafted

Rich Chuckrey — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:37:22 -0000

Not saying I frequent EASYNEWS, but there is more than one way to skin a cat(music labels).

Re: We Don’t Need No Stinking Replaceable Laptop Batteries!

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:20:57 -0000

I'm not convinced either that Apple made the right move with making the battery inaccessible. Though, if Apple's words are true, then specs like will have you upgrading to a new laptop before the battery dies -- -- roughly 3 years if you run daily on battery-only for 8 hours.

Re: We Don’t Need No Stinking Replaceable Laptop Batteries!

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:22:08 -0000

I'm not convinced either that Apple made the right move with making the battery inaccessible. Though, if Apple's words are true, then specs likely will have you upgrading to a new laptop before the battery dies -- -- roughly 3 years if you run daily on battery-only for 8 hours.

Re: We Don’t Need No Stinking Replaceable Laptop Batteries!

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:22:32 -0000

I'm not convinced either that Apple made the right move with making the battery inaccessible. Though, if Apple's words are true, then these specs will likely have you upgrading to a new laptop before the battery dies -- -- roughly 3 years if you run daily on battery-only for 8 hours.

Re: We Don’t Need No Stinking Replaceable Laptop Batteries!

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:25:40 -0000

Sounds like a pain if you're not located near an Apple Store and expensive: "Depleted batteries can be replaced for $179 which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner."

Re: Macworld 2009 – Apple’s Subliminal Message

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:30:31 -0000

Past Macworlds had some big launches to brag about. This one struck me as mediocre -- with a few product updates sprinkled on. Plus, they should have had Sinatra out there instead of Bennett. That would've been magical!

Are you sure iPods are selling at hotcake pace recently? I've seen numbers showing them taking a dip. Given -- we are in a bad way with the economy, but I think the iPod's day of reckoning is here.

On the other hand -- the iPhone 'is' here to stay. OR.... will the Palm smartphone boot it to the curb...

Expensive is subjective. But we certainly do agree that Apple PC products can be found equal or lower in price as compared to, say a similarly spec'd Dell PC.

Re: We Don’t Need No Stinking Replaceable Laptop Batteries!

Rich Chuckrey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:52:20 -0000

I'm not a big fan of hiding replaceable components away and out of user reach. Is it because of the aluminum unibody design? What was the drive behind doing it?

Re: Macworld 2009 – Apple’s Subliminal Message

Rich Chuckrey — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:57:02 -0000

Apple Miso -- that sounds delish!

Thanks for the MobilePress link! We're actively working on brining mobile access to TechMiso. Stay tuned!

Re: Macworld 2009 – Apple’s Subliminal Message

Rich Chuckrey — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:57:13 -0000

Apple Miso -- that sounds delish!

Thanks for the MobilePress link! We're actively working on bringing mobile access to TechMiso. Stay tuned!

Re: Macworld 2009 – Apple’s Subliminal Message

Rich Chuckrey — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:55:01 -0000

It's unfortunate, but a reality. If Steve Jobs isn't healthy, then his performance and amount of time spent on Apple is diminished. A fact of life we are all prone to.

Still today, Jobs = Apple. Like you said, they need to find that competent someone to step in quick.

Re: Macworld 2009 – Apple’s Subliminal Message

Rich Chuckrey — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:23:50 -0000

Now, that's an idea!!

Re: Flaw In Defense Contracting Of Information Technology Staff

Rich Chuckrey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:01:09 -0000

Definitely makes sense from a profitability standpoint. It's too bad though you had to dump good candidates because of the red tape in doing security clearances. 2500 resumes in the trash -- wow.

I'm in the camp that government can [and should] make clearances a more transparent routine -- taking the burden off the defense contractor -- who -- for good reason -- is looking to make a buck.

Re: Flaw In Defense Contracting Of Information Technology Staff

Rich Chuckrey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:10:59 -0000

What a mess on that sponsor stuff. Government -- fully knowing that clearances are mandatory for access to their own facilities -- need to fix this kind of goat rope and stop shirking the work.

Re: Flaw In Defense Contracting Of Information Technology Staff

Rich Chuckrey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:20:16 -0000

Scary. Why would a small business need to go to a big business for a government security clearance. Sounds ripe for an audit.

Let me know when you ramp that blog up -- I'll be first in line to sign up!

Re: Why Obama Losing His Blackberry Is Asinine

Rich Chuckrey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:42:36 -0000

Totally agree. I'm sure Barrack is a big boy and can handle is national security responsibility. Give him a set of rules [just like any other Blackberry user] and let him use the damn thing. What's the big deal?

Re: Why Obama Losing His Blackberry Is Asinine

Rich Chuckrey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:42:53 -0000

Totally agree. I'm sure Barack is a big boy and can handle is national security responsibility. Give him a set of rules [just like any other Blackberry user] and let him use the damn thing. What's the big deal?